Park Authority

Get the summer started off right with the Fairfax County Park Authority’s outdoor waterpark, spray park and swimming pool! On Saturday, May 25, the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole, Our Special Harbor Spray Park, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park swimming pool will open for the summer season. Each location will be open on a limited schedule until school breaks for the summer recess. 

• The Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole 
  Located at Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston), this family water park captures the excitement of the Old West's Gold Rush with attractions tailored for all ages. The park opens at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 25. Tickets and park information, including operational hours for the entire season, are available online.
• Our Special Harbor Spray Park 
  This popular destination is part of the Franconia Family Recreation Area at Franconia Park (6601 Telegraph Road, Alexandria). If you enjoy running through the sprinkler, this fully accessible, Chesapeake-Bay-themed sprayground is the place to be. The spray park will open at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 25. General admission is free for families, but there is a charge for large groups. For more information and complete operating hours, visit Franconia Family Recreation Area. 
• Martin Luther King Jr. Park Pool
  The swimming pool at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park (8115 Fordson Road, Alexandria) will open at Noon on Saturday, May 25. The pool features two slides and a children’s wading pool. General admission is free for Fairfax County residents, proof of residence will be required. Additional pool information is available online. 

Golf Fairfax is excited to announce the launch of the Orange Tee Club at Burke Lake Golf Center. This groundbreaking program is designed to provide junior golfers and their parents with a relaxed, family-friendly golfing experience. The Orange Tee Club will officially start on May 25 at Burke Lake Golf Center. Burke Lake Golf Center has set specific tee times for the Orange Tee Club on Saturdays from 4 to 5 p.m. and on Friday and Sunday afternoons.

The Orange Tee Club program provides a stress-free environment for new junior players, ages 6 to 12, and their families by pairing junior golfers together with parents and using orange tees positioned closer to the greens, creating a more manageable course for juniors. Participation in the Orange Tee Club comes at no extra cost. Junior golfers in the program will be eligible for special promotions, including Orange Tee merchandise and food and beverage discounts.

To reserve your tee time, call the pro shop directly at 703-323-1641. 

Burke Lake Golf Center is located at 6915 Ox Road, Fairfax Station. For more information, visit the Burke Lake Golf Center website.
 

The Orange Tee Club program is sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Foundation. The Fairfax County Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3), supports the Fairfax County Park Authority by raising private funds, obtaining grants, and creating partnerships that supplement tax dollars to meet our community’s needs for park land, facilities, and services. Visit the Fairfax County Park Foundation website for more information or call 703-324-8582.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is now accepting applications from prospective resident curators for the rehabilitation and long-term maintenance of the Ash Grove and Lahey Lost Valley properties. The submission period will remain open until 30 days after an initial application is received. The Park Authority will issue an announcement once the first application is received to announce the closing date for applications.

Ash Grove is one of the few standing 18th-century Virginia houses, built by the Fairfax family. The house is a stately Federal style, 2.5 story, center hall house. A serious fire in 1960 could have doomed its legacy, but fortunately, many of the architectural features had been removed from the house for restoration work, including original doors, windows and much of the interior woodwork. Architectural drawings and photographs captured in the 1930s by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) were instrumental in restoring the home after fire damage. Some of the wood floors still bear charring marks from the fire.

The Lahey Lost Valley House is a mid-18th-century brick hall-parlor house with a 1940s brick addition. The house is located on land that was granted to William Gunnell in 1730. Members of the Gunnell family were leaders in Fairfax County throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The family continued to own the property through the 1930s. In 1940, the house and 45 acres were sold to Richard and Carlotta Lahey. The Laheys moved a wood-framed kitchen addition off the brick house and used it as a freestanding building for an artist studio. In its place, the Laheys constructed a two-story brick addition.

The Resident Curator Program offers long-term lease agreements to qualified tenants in beautiful public park settings. The curator leases are without charge in exchange for a financial commitment and approved rehabilitation of the Park Authority’s underutilized historic properties.

Complete application forms and additional information about the properties are available at the Resident Curator Program website.

For more information, contact Stephanie Langton, Resident Curator Program manager, at 703-324-8791 or by email at stephanie.langton@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Welcome back! The Scott’s Run Nature Preserve is reopening just in time for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend! The popular location situated against the bank of the Potomac River has been closed for several weeks to accommodate an emergency project to clean an obstructed county wastewater facility and make necessary repairs to maintain service. Construction fences and gates are expected to be demobilized by Friday, May 24. There is a possibility that additional work may be required later this year.

Learn more about the Scott’s Run Siphon Emergency Project.

Scott’s Run Nature Preserve is one of the most beautiful, alluring and remarkable parts of the Fairfax County park system. We invite all park visitors to help us take care of this unique habitat by enjoying this special place responsibly. Guests can do their part to preserve the precious habitat and ensure a wonderful experience for all visitors by practicing simple courtesy for the outdoors, plants and wildlife and by following the site rules:

• No coolers are allowed. No alcohol or glass bottles are permitted in Scott’s Run. Bags will be checked at parking lot trailheads. Enforcement will be stepped up at the waterfall area.
• No swimming, wading or boating allowed at Scott’s Run. The beauty of the falls masks its peril. This area is subject to dangerous currents, and submerged rocks can combine with those currents to make entering the water a deadly decision. Rain upstream can raise water levels very quickly. Additionally, crowds in the water threaten the many invertebrates and the remarkable and rare plant species that call the preserve home.
• No parking is permitted in adjacent neighborhoods or along the roadway leading to the park. Parking is limited to 50 cars in the designated parking areas. Towing may be enforced.
• Dogs must be on a leash while in the park.

Scott's Run Nature Preserve is located at 7400 Georgetown Pike, McLean, Virginia. For more information, visit Scott's Run Nature Preserve website.

The Fairfax County Park Authority expects to begin athletic court revitalization work at the Franconia District Park on May 28. The project will include leveling and smoothing the asphalt at the basketball and shared-use pickleball and tennis courts, as well adjustments to the gates and fencing as needed. New seal coat, color coat, and playing lines will also be applied to the courts.

Franconia District Park will remain open during the athletic court revitalization. However, construction activities may temporarily impact some areas of the park. Weather permitting, FCPA anticipates that the work will take approximately two weeks to complete.

Franconia District Park is located at 6601 Telegraph Road, Alexandria. For more information, please contact project manager Marcos Suarez at marcos.suarez@fairfaxcounty.gov or contact the Public Information Office at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority was awarded the 2023 Michael Hoffman Award from the Council of Virginia Archaeologists. The award, named in memory of a former professor of anthropology at the University of Virginia, recognizes organizations for significant contributions to archaeological site investigation and historic preservation within the Commonwealth. The Park Authority was nominated for its 30-year dedication to assuring that archaeological resources throughout the county are recorded, its cemetery recordation initiative and many educational programs.

"Fairfax County boasts a rich and diverse historical and cultural heritage," said Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole. "We at the Park Authority embrace our mission and responsibility of being stewards of that heritage by preserving it and sharing the stories of our past, which can inform our own histories to be added and handed down to future generations."

The Archaeology and Collections Branch (ACB) of the Park Authority identifies, preserves and interprets the material culture of Fairfax County. Its mission is to promote shared stewardship of cultural resources, nurture deeper understanding of the past and inspire future generations. In addition to maintaining and preserving archaeological and historical resources on county-owned and county-controlled land, the ACB assists private landowners and developers in providing archaeological reviews for zoning and permit applications where necessary.

The Park Authority’s Archaeology and Collections Branch is steward of more than 3 million archaeological artifacts, more than 10,000 museum objects, and thousands of associated archival items from Fairfax County. Examples of these items along with the interpretive work performed by the branch can be found at the ArtiFACTS website.

For more information about Fairfax County archaeology, contact FCPA-Archaeology@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Rev up your engines and mark your calendars! Father’s Day is just around the corner, and there’s no better way to celebrate than at the 49th Annual Sully Antique Car Show. This year’s event promises a spectacular day filled with live entertainment, a variety of food vendors, an eclectic craft market, a bustling flea market, and, of course, hundreds of stunning antique cars. Join us on Sunday, June 16, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the beautiful Sully Historic Site in Chantilly.

In addition to the automotive extravaganza, attendees will have the unique opportunity to explore the first level of the historic Sully house, adding a touch of history to your day of fun.

Advance tickets are now available: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $8 for children aged 5 to 15 years old. Don’t miss out on being part of this cherished community tradition!

Buy Sully Antique Car Show tickets

View the event flyer

Sully Historic Site is located at 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly. For more information, visit the Sully Historic Site website or call 703-437-1794. 

As the summer heats up, so does the sizzling list of performers set to entertain across Fairfax County as part of the Summer Entertainment Series. The 2024 performers will bring all ages together to enjoy a variety of entertainment as a community.

The 2024 Summer Entertainment Series features 196 free performances at 19 locations. The lineup includes concerts showcasing rock, R&B, bluegrass, pop, classical, blues, country, folk and everything in between; children’s performances showcasing fun songs, magic, comedy and more; cultural performances featuring song and dance from such locations as the Caribbean, Ireland, Africa, India, Russia and China; and four drive-in movies.

Fill out your summer must-see list by exploring the Summer Entertainment Series website.

Fairfax County Park Authority provides numerous ways to search the extensive lineup:

• You can visit the following series landing pages to see the series flyer and series list that provides descriptions of performers at each location:
  • Arts in the Parks children’s entertainment series (7 locations)
  • Braddock Nights (Fairfax, Springfield)
  • Evenings on the Ellipse (Fairfax County Government Center)
  • Franconia District Nights (Franconia)
  • Hunter Mill Melodies (Herndon)
  • Mount Vernon Nights (Alexandria, Lorton)
  • Music at Arrowbrook Centre Park (Herndon)
  • Providence Presents (Vienna, Merrifield)
  • Spotlight by Starlight (Annandale)
  • Springfield Nights (Fairfax Station)
  • Starlight Cinema Drive-in Movies (Chantilly)
• Use the Performance Search to filter by performer, type of performance, location and date.
• Explore the calendar listing to see upcoming performances by date.
• Read through the 2024 show schedule to see summaries of performers.
• Subscribe to the Summer Concert Series e-news to get weekly updates of upcoming performances.

Pack those lawn chairs, grab a picnic and come out to enjoy the 2024 Summer Entertainment Series with family, friends, neighbors and community. Performances and movies are held outdoors and may be canceled in the event of inclement weather. Please call 703-324-SHOW (7469) before leaving home for inclement weather updates Cancellations due to inclement weather are announced one hour before showtime.

The Summer Entertainment Series performances are provided in partnership with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Fairfax County Park Foundation, and the tremendous support of individuals, businesses, corporations and volunteers who contribute to the success of these entertainment series.

The Summer Entertainment Series is sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Foundation. The Fairfax County Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3), supports the Fairfax County Park Authority by raising private funds, obtaining grants, and creating partnerships that supplement tax dollars to meet our community’s needs for park land, facilities, and services. Visit the Fairfax County Park Foundation website for more information or call 703-324-8582.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon install two sun shades with seating at Monticello Dog Park. These shades, funded by Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw’s office, will offer residents and their furry companions reprieve from the summer sun as they enjoy the park.

Contractors will begin construction on May 28. The project includes installation of two fabric shade structures each with respective paving and benches. Weather pending, work is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete. Both areas of Monticello Dog Park will be closed for the duration of the project.

Monticello Dog Park is located at 5315 Guinea Road, Burke. Questions regarding this project can be directed to the Public Information Officer at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will officially open the new restroom facility at Laurel Hill’s Central Green on Saturday, June 1 at 9 a.m. The ribbon-cutting will be held in conjunction with the Park Authority’s National Trails Day event commemorating 10 years of the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail.

The restroom facility was installed as part of a two-phase development project at Laurel Hill’s Central Green. Phase 1 included an asphalt loop road with parking, four large picnic shelters, an accessible asphalt trail, meadow conservation areas and related site work, including utilities and stormwater management. Phase 2 included the installation of the new restroom building, an Americans With Disabilities Act compliant walkway with related utilities and a sanitary line to the pump station at the Lorton Workhouse.

Total project cost for the 32-feet-by-52-feet restroom facility was approximately $2.1 million, with funding provided through the parks projects and infrastructure funds and the General County Construction Fund.

Laurel Hill Central Green is located at 8780 Lorton Road in Lorton. 

Questions about the new facility or National Trail’s Day event may be directed to the Park Authority’s Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

View the National Trails Day Flyer